le cand



(No Model.) f

, F. J. V. LE GAND.

. y BARREL FOLLOWER. No. 532,794. Patented Jan. 22, 1895.

N11-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED V. LE CAND, OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK B.

.POSTLETHWAITFL OF SAME PLACE.

BARREL-FOLLOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming vpart of Letters Patent No. 532,794, dated January 22, 1895.

Application filed May 10, 1894. Serial No. 510,782. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

,Be it known that I, FRED J. V. LE OAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Natchez, in the county of Adams and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Barrel-Follower, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates to barrel followers; and it has for its object to effect certainV improvements in that class of followers that are adapted to be employed within a barrel, tub, or keg, in addition to the usual cover or top, for the purpose of keeping the articles contained within such receptacles below the fluidtherein.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved follower of this character that shall have simple and efficient means to providefor readily adjusting the same within the barrel or other receptacles to hold the articles under the brine or other fluid that may be therein.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the natu re of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz--Figure 1 is a sectional view of a barrel showing the herein-described follower arranged in position therein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the follower. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof with one of the sections or cap plates of the follower head removed. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of one of the adjustable clamp rack bars. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the adjusting pinion separated from the turning handle post.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l designates a barrel of ordinary construction, such as is usually employed for containing articles that are to be kept under brine, and said barrel is adapted to accommodate therein the vertically adjustable follower head 2. The follower head 2, is circular in shape and of a diameter that permits the same to be readily moved up and down within the barrel according to the quantity of the particular article that is contained therein, and is to be kept submerged under the brine or other solution.

The follower head 2, may be of either wood ormetal, but in the event of being made of metal should be of galvanized iron or some other metal that will not rust or aect the'v articles that are pressed down, and said follower head is laminated and usually consists of an intermediate solid portion 3, that is capped at the top and bottom by the cap plates 4, as clearly shown in the drawings, such con! arranged parallel with each other and extend in opposite directions, one opening at one end at one side of the periphery of the head, and

the other opening at its correspondingly op4 posite end at the directly opposite side of the periphery of the head, 'the inner endsl of all the guide grooves or ways terminating short of one side of the periphery of the,head. The guide grooves or ways of each superposed pair are adapted to loosely accommodate therein the adjustable clamp rack bars 6, the toothed or cogged edgesof which aredisposed inwardly toward the center of the follower head and are adapted to mesh with the central adjusting pinion 7, that is mounted to rotate in the central recess 8, formed centrally within the follower head for the reception of said pinion. Owing to the arrangementof the guide grooves or ways, it is to be observed that the follower head accommodates two pairs of clamp rack bars, the bars of one pair being disposed at direct right angles to the bars of the other pair, but the bars of the same pair are disposed parallel to each other and are adapted to be adj usted in opposite directions, so that by ad-l justing the pinion 7, in one direction, all of the bars of both pairs are adj usted outwardly, while a reverse adjustment of the pinion will adj ust the bars inwardly.

The clamp rack bars 6, are each provided at their outer ends with the integral prong arms 9, that work through and beyond the outer open ends of the guide grooves or ways,

IOO

and are adapted to have the pointed extremities 10, thereof, engage in the sides of the barrel in order to hold the follower head rigidly in its adjusted position, and at the inner ends of the prong arm extensions 9, are formed the stop shoulders 11 that are adapted to engage against the pins l2, located within the guide grooves or ways 5, near their outer open ends to limit the outward projection of the prong ends of the rack bars.

The adjusting pinion 7, is mounted fast on the lower spindle extremity 13, of the handle post 14, said spindle extremity turning in bearing openings 15, in the cap plates of the follower head, and said handle post extends above the follower head and is provided at its upper end with the right angularly disposed handle bar 15, that provides for conveniently grasping the handle post in order to turn the same and effect the proper adjustment of the clamp rack bars.

It will be obvious that the specific arrangement of clamp bars described admits of the use of four of such bars to be operated by the use of a single pinion, but it will be understood that only two or any other convenient number, excepting the four described, may be employed, and that the rack bars and pinion, as well as the follower head itself may be of either wood or metal, so it will therefore be understood that changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Let-A In a barrel follower, the follower head having inclosed parallel guide grooves or ways oppositely disposed, and having one end leading out to the periphery of the head stop pins arranged in said grooves or ways near their outer open ends, clamp rack bars mounted to slide in said guide grooves or ways and having pointed prong arms adapted to be projected beyond the periphery of the head, and stop shoulders to engage against said pins, and a turning adjusting pinion mounted within the follower head between the guide grooves or ways and meshing with said rack bars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRED J. V. LE CAND.

Witnesses:

NAP LIsso, Louis I-I. LAWRENCE. 

